In this Level Three I Can Read, meet Iris?the new kid in town?and her soon-to-be best friend, Walter!

After a move, Iris is sure that life in her new home will be just awful. There's nothing to do and no one to play with. Iris will never be happy here. Then Grandpa suggests a walk. Down the road and around the bend, they discover a huge green tree, a secret hideaway?and a boy named Walter. Maybe life far from the city won't be so lonely after all.

In the beloved Iris and Walter books, the two friends discover that everything is easier when you have a best friend by your side.

This Level 3 I Can Read! is written for independent readers and includes challenging words and more complex themes and stories.

Elissa Haden Guest is the author of Baby Builders, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata, and the award-winning Iris and Walter series. She holds an MFA in children's literature from Hollins University and teaches classes in writing for children and young adults at Stanford Continuing Studies. She lives in San Francisco, California.